Steven Spielberg to direct 'American Sniper'

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2013 file photo, director Steven Spielberg arrives at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Spielberg has his sights set on his next film. A spokeswoman for DreamWorks Studios said Thursday, May 2, 2013, the filmmaker plans to direct Bradley Cooper in an adaptation of the best-selling book "American Sniper." (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP, File)
— John Shearer/Invision/AP

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2013 file photo, director Steven Spielberg arrives at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Spielberg has his sights set on his next film. A spokeswoman for DreamWorks Studios said Thursday, May 2, 2013, the filmmaker plans to direct Bradley Cooper in an adaptation of the best-selling book "American Sniper." (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP, File)
/ John Shearer/Invision/AP

FILE - in this March 28, 2013 file photo, actor Bradley Cooper attends the premiere of Focus Features' "The Place Beyond The Pines" at the Landmark Sunshine Theater in New York. Steven Spielberg has his sights set on his next film. A spokeswoman for DreamWorks Studios said Thursday, May 2, 2013, the filmmaker plans to direct Bradley Cooper in an adaptation of the best-selling book "American Sniper." (Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)— Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

FILE - in this March 28, 2013 file photo, actor Bradley Cooper attends the premiere of Focus Features' "The Place Beyond The Pines" at the Landmark Sunshine Theater in New York. Steven Spielberg has his sights set on his next film. A spokeswoman for DreamWorks Studios said Thursday, May 2, 2013, the filmmaker plans to direct Bradley Cooper in an adaptation of the best-selling book "American Sniper." (Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
/ Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

LOS ANGELES 
Steven Spielberg has his sights set on his next project, a movie about former Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle.

A spokeswoman for DreamWorks Studios says the filmmaker will direct Bradley Cooper in an adaptation of the best-selling book "American Sniper."

"Spread" screenwriter Jason Hall wrote the script based on the autobiography of Kyle, who was killed along with a friend earlier this year while at a North Texas gun range. An Iraq war veteran who they were trying to help deal with PTSD is charged with the killings.

Kyle is considered to be the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history. At the time of his death, he was working on another book, "American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms."